Origin
Shell Point, SC
Evening in Shell Point on Thursday
Local time
6:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shell Point, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
48m
Distance
35.1 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shell Point, SC
Marc Puddy
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Shell Point, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 35.1 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Okatie Highway, Fording Island Road, William Hilton Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.3 miles on Okatie Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 48m drive with frequent turns across 35.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Okatie Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 128 / Savannah Highway.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.1 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 128 / Savannah Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.1 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 128 / Savannah Highway
Turn sharp right onto SC 128 / Savannah Highway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Turn left onto SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Navigation decision point
3
16.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
29.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
32.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Marshland Road
Turn left onto Marshland Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Okatie Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Savannah Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Robert Smalls Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Okatie Highway
— 12.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shell Point, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on US 21
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
Parris Island Gateway
2
Turn sharp right onto SC 128
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Savannah Highway
3
Turn left onto SC 170
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Robert Smalls Parkway
4
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
5
Continue on SC 170
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Okatie Highway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
7
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
8
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
11
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
12
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Allen Road
13
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Shell Point, SC · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Shell Point, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hilton Head Island, SC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Hilton Head Island, SC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.50 | $12.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Hilton Head Island, SC
Evening in Hilton Head Island on Thursday
Local time
6:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 16 at 2:47AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
48m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Shell Point, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 35.1 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Okatie Highway, Fording Island Road, William Hilton Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.6 miles from Shell Point, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.1 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 128 / Savannah Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.1 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Shell Point, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.
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